Shuttlecock type play ball



Oct. 14, 1952 w. R. RICHARDS 2,513,935

SHUTTLECOCK TYPE PLAY BALL Filed Sept. 3. 1949 IIIIIIIIII ll -laii INVENTOR. Wmuxeo R RiCHARDS A ramway Patented Oct. 14, 1952 r SHUTTLECOCK TYPE PLAY BALL Willard R. Richards, Warren, Ohio Application September 3, 1949, Serial No.-113,957

2 Claims.

My invention relates to play balls, more particularly to play balls for use in restricted areas, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved balls of such character, T j

The play ball of my invention, although it resembles a shuttlecock and may be used assuch, also has great uses as a game ball for use by adults and children especially where it is desired that travel of the ball should be controlled or limited.

My invention provides a play ball that is economical to manufacture, thus placing such ball in the price range of all budgets. Despite its low cost, the play ball is of such construction that it will withstand considerable punishment. In this respect it is pointed out that the feathers of the ball are resiliently mounted so that shock is largely absorbed by the resilient mounting and the feathers are undamaged by such shock. My invention also provides features which enable the ball to be easily and quickly assembled, and readily repaired if necessary. v

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming part of this application, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of my invention, a part being broken and shown in section,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view corresponding generally to the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the ball with the feathers omitted, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the ball, showing a method of controlling the spread of the feathers.

The embodiment herein shown to disclose the invention comprises a ball I and flight influencing means I I.

The ball Ill is preferably somewhat semispherical in shape, as shown, and is preferably made of a resilient material. At the present time it is preferred to make the ball of sponge rubber since it has been found that such material suits requirements for all-around use.

The flight influencing means is here shown as a plurality of feathers I2 which may be actual feathers from a fowl or simulated feathers, or other means which will perform the same function. The flight influencing means II has resilient connection with the body so that shock to the means I I will not damage such means but will be largely absorbed by the resilient connec tion.

The body I0 resiliently carries neck means I3, and as herein disclosed, such neck means cornprisesa neck portion integral with the body In and extending from the surface opposite the spherical surface. Each of the feathers I2 ter minates in a quill portion I4 and each quill po rtion is adapted to lie along the neck portion I3. The neck portion I3 may have a series of "spaced longitudinal grooves I5" adapt e d to receive at least a part of a respective'quill portion I'4, so as to space the feathers 'I2 in predetermined manner.

Resilient means I6 are provided for securing the flight influencing means to the body I0. In the embodiment disclosed, the resilient means I6 comprises rubber band means which encircle the neck portion I3 and clamp the quill portions to the neck portion.

In Figure 1, the rubber band means I6 is shown of a width substantially equal to the length of the neck portion I3 so that the entire adjoining part of the quill portion is pressed against the neck portion. In Figure 4, the rubber .band means I612, is of a width less than the length of the neck portion I 3, and in this construction the spread of the feathers I2 may be controlled by the position of the band means I6 with respect to the longitudinal extent of the neck. Thus, if the band means IIia is close to the base of the neck portion, as shown in Figure 4, the lower ends of the quill portions I4 will be pressed against the neck portion and the feathers will diverge with respect toeach other to a greater extent. If the band means IE1; is positioned close to the free end of the neck portion, the feathers will converge with respect to each other. It will be appreciated that the body I0 may be readily molded to any desirable shape in accordance with standard molding practice. To assemble the play ball, it is merely necessary to position the quill portions I4 in proper position on the neck portion I3, expand the rubber band means I6 and cause it to encircle the neck portion, and then release expanding force to cause the rubber band means to firmly hold the quill portions I4 to the neck portion.

The neck portion I3, because of its resilient characteristics, will flex sufliciently to absorbshock applied to the play ball. Further, the band means I6 will also flex to further absorb shock. Thus, the play ball of my invention may be subjected to relatively hard usage without danger of destruction. Should a feather become broken,

it is merely necessary to remove and replace the broken feather, the band means l6 being suflir V 4 3 ciently flexible to permit this to be easily performed.

It will be appreciated that the ball may be suitably provided with color combinations such as by dipping the ball in paint. If the ball is of rubber, it is preferable to dip it in a rubber paint. The feathers may also be colored, if desired.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention, and it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A may ba compri in a ene al Semispherical body formed of sponge rubber, having an integral neck portion extending from the surface opposite the spherical surface; a plurality of feathers, each having a quill portion adapted to lie along said neck portion; and rubber band means encircling said neck portion and clamping said quill portions to said neck portion, said rubber band means being of a width less than the length of said neck portion so that its position with respect to the longitudinal extent of said neck portion determines the spread of said feathers.

2. A play ball, comprising a generally semisperical body formed of resilient material, having an integral neck extending from a generally plane surface opposite the spherical surface, said neck having a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal grooves in its peripheral wall surface, each of said grooves extending generally from the free end of said neck to said plane surface, a plurality of feathers, each having a quill portion disposed in a respective groove, said plane surface providing abutment means for limiting disposition of said quill portions, and a resilient band encircling said quill portions and resiliently holding the latter in respective grooves and in assembled relation with said neck.

WILLARD R. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,877,100 Wayte Sept. 13, 1932 2,012,730 Reid Aug. 27, 1935 2,116,304 Crespin May 3, 1938 2,193,645 Raizen Mar. 12, 1940 2,201,246 Sells May 21, 1940 2,338,274 Yancey Jan. 4, 1944 

